Can customized tube furnaces be made into multi temperature zones?

Customized tube furnaces can be designed with multiple temperature zones, which is an important solution to meet complex experimental requirements and improve process flexibility.

1. Technical principles and advantages of multi temperature zone tube furnace
Independent temperature control design
The multi zone tube furnace divides the furnace body into multiple independent heating zones (such as dual zone, triple zone, and five zone), each equipped with independent heating elements (such as silicon carbon rods, silicon molybdenum rods) and temperature control systems (such as PID controllers), enabling independent temperature control of different zones. For example:
Dual temperature zone: front-end heating zone (rapid heating)+back-end constant temperature zone (insulation treatment), suitable for material staged reaction.
Three temperature zones: heating zone+reaction zone+cooling zone, which can simulate continuous process flow and reduce sample transfer steps.
Core advantages
Gradient temperature control: to meet the phase transition, diffusion or reaction requirements of materials at different temperatures (such as semiconductor epitaxial growth, catalyst activation).
Process flexibility: By adjusting the temperature curves of each temperature zone, complex heat treatment processes such as annealing, sintering, and quenching can be achieved.
Experimental efficiency improvement: A single experiment can complete multi-step processing, reducing equipment switching and sample transfer time.

2. Key parameters for customizing multi zone tube furnaces
Number and layout of temperature zones
Quantity: Select 2-5 temperature zones according to process requirements, commonly known as three temperature zones (heating reaction cooling).
Layout: Horizontal layout (sample horizontal movement) or vertical layout (sample vertical lifting), depending on the laboratory space and sample type.
Case: A university customized a three temperature zone vertical tube furnace for CVD growth of graphene films. By independently controlling the temperature of each temperature zone, uniform film formation was achieved.
Temperature range and accuracy
Scope: Select based on material characteristics (such as 1200 ℃, 1400 ℃, 1800 ℃), and high-temperature resistant materials (such as alumina fiber furnaces) should be used in high-temperature areas.
Accuracy: It is recommended to choose within ± 1 ℃ to ensure experimental reproducibility. For example, the three temperature zone vacuum tube atmosphere furnace of DuTe brand has a temperature control accuracy of ± 0.5 ℃.
Atmosphere control and vacuum degree
Atmosphere type: Supports inert gases (Ar, N ₂), reducing gases (H ₂, CO) or mixed gases, and the gas path system needs to be customized according to the reaction requirements.
Vacuum degree: High vacuum environment (such as 10 ⁻ ³ Pa) can avoid oxidation and is suitable for metal heat treatment or semiconductor processes.
Case: A certain enterprise customized a three temperature zone vacuum tube furnace for sintering lithium-ion battery cathode materials (NCM), reducing oxygen defects and improving material performance through a vacuum environment.
Furnace tube size and material
Size: Customize the diameter and length of the furnace tube according to the sample size (such as Φ 100mm × 1200mm), supporting large workpieces or batch processing.
Material: commonly used quartz tube (transparent, high temperature resistant) or corundum tube (corrosion-resistant, high mechanical strength), depending on the type of atmosphere.
Case: A research institute customized a three temperature zone quartz tube furnace for nanowire synthesis, and observed the reaction process in real-time through transparent furnace tubes.

3. Customization process of multi temperature zone tube furnace
Requirement communication
Provide detailed parameters such as experimental objectives, temperature curves, atmosphere requirements, sample size, etc., and the manufacturer will design a preliminary plan based on the requirements.
Example: The user needs to customize a three temperature zone tube furnace for gradient activation of catalyst supports. The heating rate is required to be 10 ℃/min, the reaction zone should be kept at a constant temperature for 12 hours, and the cooling zone should be naturally cooled.
scheme design
The manufacturer provides 3D model diagrams, temperature curve simulation diagrams, gas path layout diagrams, etc. to confirm the number of temperature zones, layout, temperature control methods, and other details.
Key points: It is necessary to clarify the temperature range, overlapping areas (to avoid sudden temperature changes), and atmosphere sealing of each temperature zone.
Production and Testing
The manufacturer produces equipment according to the design plan and conducts no-load testing (temperature uniformity, atmosphere leakage rate) and load testing (simulating actual process conditions).
Standard: Temperature uniformity ≤ ± 3 ℃, atmosphere leakage rate ≤ 0.5% vol/h.
Delivery and Training
The manufacturer provides on-site installation and debugging, and trains operators on the use of temperature control systems, air circuit control, safety protection, and other functions.
Services: including 24-hour hotline, 48 hour on-site maintenance, lifelong technical support, etc.

4. Typical application scenarios of multi zone tube furnace
New energy materials
Lithium battery positive and negative electrode materials: By controlling the sintering temperature curve in multiple temperature zones, the crystallinity and electrochemical performance of the materials are optimized.
Fuel cell catalyst: Gradient heating activates the catalyst carrier to improve the uniformity of active site distribution.
Semiconductors and Electronics
Epitaxial growth: Three temperature zone tube furnace simulates vapor phase epitaxy (VPE) process to achieve uniform growth of single crystal thin films.
Optoelectronic devices: By controlling the cooling rate, reducing film stress, and improving device luminous efficiency.
Research and Universities
Nanomaterial synthesis: Multiple temperature zones provide precise temperature gradients to control the size and morphology of nanoparticles.
Catalytic reaction research: Independently control the temperature of each reaction stage, optimize catalyst performance and reaction pathway.